insu mni ac

by John Eivaz
PenShells
Third Place, September 2011
Judged by Tyehimba Jess


          insomniac

                                        windowed backward

a tumble of walls

light light
                              ening

                                          woe to those
          who don’t love

   toe to toe we go
ho p p ing sideways

                                                  hum is called chant
                                                  called forth interval

                                 a glide

no there no     sense
   we will not leave

my frazzle     of late          fingertips               makes it near

clear          not silence not fear
                                                                      hand spasms               hip chasms

      overtaken in sleep
      sideways woe to go on
      with no hands to extend
      or lips to shoulder

distance

                    hop sideways

stamp                douse the lamp


Great liberation happening here. The scatterbrained motions of sleeplessness embodied in restless line breaks and "woe to those who don't love!". --Tyehimba Jess